BTO flats aren’t exactly known for being spacious. Once you’ve made room in your small kitchen and service yard for the sink, cabinets, drying rack, and perhaps that fancy kitchen appliance you swore you’d use every week, finding space for both a washer and dryer can feel like playing a very complex game of Tetris.
Naturally, stacking the 2 appliances is one way around this. But there’s another solution for compact homes: the washer-dryer tower, where both appliances come together as a single integrated unit.
Case in point, the LG WashTower, which combines a front-load washer and dryer into one vertically designed setup. So, how does it actually compare to buying a separate washer and dryer to DIY the stacking?
Here’s what you should consider before deciding which setup is more suitable for your home.
1. LG WashTower: Designed as a single appliance
Whether you pick the LG WashTower or DIY your own stack, it’s obvious that it’s a more space-efficient setup than having the machines side by side.
That’s where the similarities end: getting a separate front-load washer and dryer, then buying your own stacking kit requires some careful planning. Yes, you need a legit stacking unit to have your machines stacked safely, because it’s not as simple as putting the dryer on top of a washer.
Other than that, you have to ensure that both machines can be stacked safely, and that your choice of models and setups are compatible. That’s excluding, of course, the whole bit about getting your measurements right and complementary.
Meanwhile, the LG WashTower is built as a single vertically integrated unit, making it super streamlined both in function and form; they’re designed to work, quite literally, hand in hand, and the unit fits aesthetically into any modern home.
You can also pick from the 14kg wash/10kg dry, which comes in 3 colourways, or 21kg wash/16kg dry configurations, so you can rest assured that there’s definitely an option that suits your needs.
2. Control panels are at optimised height levels
Think about it: when you buy a front-loading dryer, the controls will naturally be positioned at the top of the machine. That’s because it was designed to be on the floor, so the controls would naturally be at waist height.
What that means is that when you’ve stacked it on top of your washing machine, the dryer control panel will be at the top of your stack━which makes it a tad harder to reach for the more petite amongst us, or elderly members at home who are helping out with the laundry.
Enter the LG WashTower, designed as a single, cohesive unit. Its Center Control Panel for both the washer and dryer is positioned at waist level, so the controls for the machines are all accessible from one spot.
Since they’re all consolidated into a single panel, your integrated machine will also be more compact than if you had to add on a stacking unit plus dryer on top of your washing machine.
It may seem like a small detail, but it’s one you’ll be thankful for when you have to do laundry every day.
3. Both washer & dryer can communicate with each other
We’ve mentioned several times now how the LG WashTower comprises two complementary machines, and this is best illustrated through their seamless pairing.
Where you’d have to pick a wash programme on your a la carte washing machine, transfer your clothes to your separate dryer, pick the appropriate mode, then let it do its thing, the LG WashTower sorts it out for you with its AI Direct Drive (AI DD) technology.
Short of actually transferring the load from washer to dryer for you, the AI DD technology is able to intelligently assess the load characteristics to select the best wash option, while providing fabric care for your clothes. Then, LG’s Smart Pairing informs the dryer, so it automatically selects the best drying mode for the same load.
TL;DR: No more stress about having to figure out the right mode on two machines.
4. Bundled smart features that you can control remotely
Yes, you might purchase two separate smart machines, but that might just mean you have more apps to add to your life. If you simply get one LG WashTower, however, everything you need to manage for your washer and dryer is consolidated on just one app.
The LG ThinQ app (iOS | Android) is your companion tool to the LG WashTower, and allows you to receive cycle notifications and remotely monitor your laundry, saving you multiple trips to and from the service yard to check on its status.
Through the app, you can even download additional cycles for specific fabric types such as, but not limited to, cashmere, wool and satin. If you’ve ever accidentally left your wet clothes in the washing machine overnight because you fell asleep in between walks to the yard, you’ll know how much of a godsend these push notifs are.
Choosing between the LG WashTower & a stacked washer-dryer
So, should you DIY your own washer-dryer stack, or go for the LG WashTower? There’s no one size fits all option: it really depends on what you prioritise.
If you don’t foresee yourself using a dryer that often, then perhaps a standalone washing machine is your answer. DIY-ing your own stack does give you the flexibility to pick your preferred machines, but if you want to take more hiccups out of the equation, then the LG WashTower is an easily compelling win.
Plus, it’s got multiple colourways so you might even be able to find a space for it in your studio’s living area. We’ve got our eyes on the new Navy colour too, which would be lovely in a dark modern home.
The lack of real estate in our homes means that every square foot is precious. Going vertical is pretty much a non-negotiable; so now the question to ask yourself is if you want to create your own stack, or pick the integrated system that was always designed for the two machines to work together.
Prices start from $3,999 for the 14/10kg AI DD Front Load WashTower, and $5,609 for the 21/16kg AI DD Front Load WashTower.
Get your LG WashTower here
This post was brought to you by LG.
All images courtesy of LG, unless otherwise stated.
Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.
